Steering Issue, Can It Be A Frozen Something?

[Guest les-cumbria]

Difficult one to explain but here goes:

This morning it was -10 deg and the steering was really heavy - thought it was maybe a problem with the power steering but no warning lights - is there always a warning light on failure?

Checked other things like tyre pressures and steering fluid levels - they were ok.

 

Coming back from work temp now +1 deg and steering still heavy but this time the offside wheel felt almost loose, especially around a left hand bend - got out of car and nothing unusual - nothing loose underneath road was cold but not slippy.

 

Any ideas what it might be - thought it might be a wheel bearing but checked the wheel and nothing unusual - can it be something to do with the ice or freezing weather, its been below freezing now for a week and freezing fog

[paul.h]

The steering on our C3 has been as light as normal through the cold weather, lowest about -3°C. It has electric power steering so I would check if a fuse has blown (not sure what fluid level you checked).

[JBSpain]

Faulty steering racks in C3 is a very common fault but that said the whole car is a fault and very expensive to repair if you keep the car out of warranty.

 

Is your car noisy going over bumps or when turning etc?

 

I will never buy another citroen car!

[Johndouglas]

I will never buy another citroen car!

 

What a silly generalisation (if I may say so). We have four PSAs in our family fleet, and have done since 1989, through BX's, AX's, Xantias, Xsara's, 205's, Saxo's, and C5. No serious faults or reasons to grouse about any of them. In fact - all great cars.

[JBSpain]

Buy Japanese/German/Swedish eg Toyota, Honda, SAAB etc

 

Citroen cars are full of little plastic clips that all fall off in time. Electronics that do not work and spare parts that are incredibly expensive.

 

I can buy Citroen cars very cheaply with family/staff discount but even still it's not worth it because the car will fall apart and hefty repairs bills all the way and constant aurguments over what's included under the warranty.

 

Anyone foolish enough to buy citroen should take all extended warranty options and never keep the car a day longer. Also see if they will replace all the plastic that falls off as you drive along!!

 

I didn't see a C3 listed in your fleet. Why don't you buy a C3 and then come back in a couple of years and see if you say the same. The car has so many known faults they should do a total recall.

 

Now don't be a complete plonker!!

[Johndouglas]

Anyone foolish enough to buy citroen

 

You're right! I've never had a C3 but plenty of guys here have them. Here's just a few quotes from their C3 section:-

 

1. We have two. Both are fantastic, .

 

2. One of the nicest cars I've ever owned, and a pleasure to drive. Mine for many more years I hope.

 

3. I loved the colour and the car.

 

4. And it still looks good even after 6 years.

 

Sorry that you seem to have had a bad experience. Don't know that you'll find many folk on this forum to agree with you.

[jazzster]

Difficult one to explain but here goes:

This morning it was -10 deg and the steering was really heavy - thought it was maybe a problem with the power steering but no warning lights - is there always a warning light on failure?

Checked other things like tyre pressures and steering fluid levels - they were ok.

 

Coming back from work temp now +1 deg and steering still heavy but this time the offside wheel felt almost loose, especially around a left hand bend - got out of car and nothing unusual - nothing loose underneath road was cold but not slippy.

 

Any ideas what it might be - thought it might be a wheel bearing but checked the wheel and nothing unusual - can it be something to do with the ice or freezing weather, its been below freezing now for a week and freezing fog

 

when i test drove mined a 03 model, power sterring was going heavy now and then, when the garage sorted it out turned out to be a broken front spring, couldnt tell it was a spring problem as i was driving, seems ok now, 1500 miles since bought, although they did fit the spring wrong and i had to go have it put right as it was creaking like mad.